Chapter 7 Police Station

• ~ Violet ~
• “Officer, this is just a misunderstanding!”
• Violet had been repeating the same words over and over again as she was being questioned at the police station. When the police came to raid The Union, all they could find was empty whiskey bottles, a passed out Dylan, and Violet standing in the staff room. Even all the strippers were gone without a trace. Violet must admit, they were very well trained.
• “We got a tip that some gang members were meeting at the bar. Did you not see any of them?” the police officer asked her again.
• “No, for the last time, I told you, I was closing down the bar and my brother was passed out because he drank too much. We were all alone in there,” Violet said reassuringly. “If you don’t believe me, check the register. I’ve closed the books and I was getting ready to leave, and about half an hour later, you guys came in,”
• The police officer let out a sigh and slumped back to his chair. He was watching Violet’s expression like a hawk, but she wasn’t giving anything away. Sure, spending her Saturday morning in a police interrogation room wasn’t something she was keen on doing, but at this rate, this might as well happen.
• “Sir, with all due respect, I think the girl’s telling the truth,” another cop suddenly chimed in. He was younger and probably lower in the ranks. He was standing in the back of the room and wearing a hat. Violet started to notice him, and his face looked familiar to her.
• “What’s that, Miller?” the older cop said.
• “I know her. And I know her brother. She’s a good girl, she’s not the kind that would lie,”
• Violet then realized that this guy was Jesse Miller. He was a couple of years older than Dylan and he used to live down the street from her. Jesse was an all-American boy, tall, blonde, and handsome. They weren’t very close, but they did go to the same high school.
• “You’ll vouch for her?” the older cop asked again.
• “Yes, sir,” Jesse said firmly.
• “Well, alright,” the older cop let out a final sigh. “We don’t have any evidence. Innocent until proven otherwise, right?”
• “Does this mean I can go?” Violet asked eagerly.
• “Yes,” Jesse replied.
• “And my brother?”
• “Him too,”
• Violet let out the biggest sigh of relief as the other cops began leaving the room. Jesse was left alone with Violet and he gave her a reassuring smile.
• “Thanks, Jesse,” Violet whispered.
• “Let me drive you guys back,” he nodded.
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• When Violet was finally released from the police station, it was already daylight. It was about 10 in the morning and Dylan was still dead asleep in the back of the car. Jesse was driving and Violet sat in the front seat.
• Jesse and Violet enjoyed some chitchatting on the way back home. Violet told him about the situation with her mom and Jesse talked about what he did after high school and joining the police academy. Violet actually enjoyed their talks. Jesse was funny and easy to talk to, it was like catching up with an old friend. If they had met under better circumstances, Violet might’ve enjoyed it even more.
• And yes, of course Violet noticed how good-looking Jesse was. He was well built, had gorgeous blue eyes, and a lovely smile. Sometimes she’d even catch him looking in her direction too, but Violet didn't want to get big headed. She just assumed that he was trying to look at the side mirror.
• After about half an hour of driving, the car pulled to a stop in front of Violet’s apartment building. Violet took off her seatbelt and glanced back at the sleeping Dylan.
• “I can help carry him in?” Jesse said as if he could read her mind.
• “Oh, no, you’ve done so much for us already,” Violet said politely. “I’ve done this plenty of times, I got it,”
• “Oh, okay,” Jesse nodded.
• Violet got out of the car and pulled Dylan out by his shoulders. He was somewhere in between awake and dreaming. Violet put his arms around her and dragged him to the sidewalk.
• “Thank you for driving us,” Violet said as Jesse rolled down his window. “And thanks again for what you did,”
• “No problem, I know you two are innocent,” Jesse said, pausing for a beat before adding, “Well, you at least,”
• Violet cracked out a smile. She then turned to her heels and she was about to climb up the stairs when Jesse called out to her again.
• “Hey, Violet,”
• “Yeah?”
• Violet whipped her head back and watched as Jesse shuffled uncomfortably in his seat.
• “I know this may sound weird or whatever, but do you maybe wanna grab dinner with me sometime?” he said.
• Violet wasn’t expecting this at all. Growing up, Jesse was about five or six years older than her. She never thought he’d see her as more than just the little girl that lives down the street.
• Is he asking me out on a date?
• Violet thought about asking the question, but somehow that made her feel embarrassed. It could just be a normal dinner. Maybe he just wanted to catch up some more and continue the talks they had in the car?
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• - - - - - To be continued - - - - -